TWO Umno lawmakers who defected to Bersatu said their decision to switch parties was made in the interests of their constituents, as Pakatan Harapan continues to question the intentions of those fleeing the former ruling party.

Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali of Bagan Serai and Mas Ermieyati Samsudin of Masjid Tanah have accepted Bersatu’s conditions for admission, among which were a thorough vetting and that they would not be allowed to hold a party position until after the next general election.

They insist that they abandoned Umno after it lost the 14th general election with the best intentions and that they did not do so in pursuit of power or position in the new PH administration or its component parties.

“I’m here for the rakyat, especially for the people of Bagan Serai people and to see how we can improve the country. Integrity is the most important… ” Dr Noor Azmi told reporters after attending the annual general assembly of Bersatu, a PH component party.

“When I joined, I want to do good for the rakyat, for the country and there must be integrity. there should not be self interest,” Noor Azmi, who left Umno in June, about a month after the Barisan Nasional coalition party was ousted from power.

Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced last night that Umno leaders and members who joined Bersatu would be put through a strict vetting process and would not be allowed to hold any positions in the party until after the 15th general election.

The long waiting period, Dr Mahathir said, was to test the Umno members’ integrity, sincerity and commitment to Bersatu and PH.

The stringent screening process was to address fears in Bersatu and PH that Umno members were joining the present ruling coalition in order to take it over from within.

Umno has lost 17 MPs since its GE14 loss. Of that number, three, Noor Azmi, Mas Ermieyati and Mustapa Mohamed of Jeli, have joined Bersatu.

“I respect Bersatu’s conditions. I am not here for any position. I am here because I want to serve the people of Masjid Tanah, the youth and women of this country,” said Mas Ermieyati, who is also a former Puteri Umno chief.

Noor Azmi said that Bersatu’s conditions were fair and hoped the party would accept ex-Umno leaders as long as they proved that they had clean records and had talents which could serve the party.

“Some of those ex-Ummo leaders who were investigated and found they are very clean and senior it might be good for the Malays, why not join Bersatu, if its agreed by the leadership. Once they join, they must be test for their sincerity. Its a fair request.” – December 30, 2018.